It was over. As the void scoured by the frigate"s main guns cooled, the subsequent mop-up operations became as tedious as cleaning up after a party. The awarding of merits and honors carried the military"s brand of raw realism. Those with connections and pull—the remnants of Chase Winters" crew and other savvy operators who had greased the wheels early—mostly received "B" or "C" performance evaluations. Don"t underestimate those. Within the military bureaucracy, a mediocre or slightly blemished rating was sometimes easier to maneuver with than a gleaming "A." It was enough to serve as a springboard for a transfer to a safe rear-echelon post or a transition to a cushy, high-paying job with giants like Interstellar Mining or Deep Space Survey, enjoying life under gentle planetary gravity. Fe
